hijab health talk

being pregnant has made me focus more on my body, my health - what goes in and what is lacking in my health related areas. after getting blood test results back i was hit with the news that not only am i low in vitamin D - that im basically deficient in it.

then my doctor proceeded to tell me that this is extremely common in covered muslim women. i basically had no idea what vitamin D was or what it did so i did some research.

vitamin D is the nutrient that we get naturally and foremost from the sun, which assists in calcium absorption. what happens if we dont get enough of it?

Vitamin D insufficiency can result in thin, brittle, or misshapen bones, while sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, and, together with calcium, helps to protect older adults from osteoporosis. Vitamin D also modulates neuromuscular function, reduces inflammation, and influences the action of many genes that regulate the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of cells. (wikipedia)

now since we hijabi girls are covered and our skin doesnt see the sun that much it seems most of us may be lacking in the vitamin D department. so besides going to the extreme and stripping completely naked while dancing under the sun, what can we do to ensure we get this essential vitamin?

we can take vitamin supplements (something i have had to do in order to keep healthy for this bubba).  it is available naturally in a small selection of foods - check here for a small list. or we can strive to find ways to take in that sunlight!
i have started taking a towel or a blanket and laying it down on the ground picnic style in my own backyard and laying down to read a book for about 30 mins - one hour everyday. sometimes its hard to do this during the week because of work, but i at least get out there on the weekends. no hijab needed - get into those short sleeved tops and pair of shorts and feel the warmth enter your skin! its very relaxing as long as it is done safely (no sunburn, etc). or if you dont have a backyard, then try to find a sunny spot in your apartment where the sunshine streams in through the window and lay under there.

wouldnt this awesome outdoor sofa be nice to relax on in your own backyard?

read here to find out more about the relation between lack of vitamin D and hijabies.